Chapter 5: The Man Behind the Deal
The name on Daniel's phone records was Ethan Cole.
I knew him well.
At least, I thought I did.
Ethan had worked as a project consultant for my construction company for almost eighteen months. He wasn't an employee, but he had helped coordinate several commercial renovation contracts.
He knew my business.
He knew my properties.
He knew the approximate value of my assets.
And, most importantly, he knew how I signed my name.
I stared at the phone number.
"Are you sure this is Ethan?""
Daniel nodded.
"I saved the number from the conversation. I didn't recognize the name at first, but when I checked his contact details, I remembered him.""
I looked at Tasha.
"How long have you been talking to Ethan?""
She folded her arms.
"I don't know what you're talking about.""
Nicole gently took the phone from Daniel.
"Let's not jump to conclusions. We need the original messages and the full context.""
Tasha shook her head.
"This is unbelievable. You're all acting like I planned some elaborate conspiracy.""
Daniel looked at her.
"You sent me eighteen thousand dollars' worth of promises and then stopped answering my calls.""
"I was going to pay you back!""
"With what?""
She didn't answer.
I stepped away from the table and walked toward the deck.
The evening air felt heavy.
I could hear the low hum of the refrigerator through the open kitchen door.
Somewhere near the fence, a child was asking his mother when they could go home.
A few hours earlier, I had been worried about whether the burgers would be ready before sunset.
Now I was trying to understand how someone I trusted had managed to turn my home into the center of a financial scheme.
Nicole joined me.
"Marcus, we should be careful about what happens next.""
"I know.""
"Don't confront Ethan without proper preparation. Let me review the records first.""
I nodded.
"Can you get the lender's correspondence?""
"I've already requested it.""
Daniel approached us.
"I can give you the original messages tonight.""
"Thank you," I said.
He looked toward his sister.
"Marcus, I need you to know I didn't understand what she was doing.""
"I believe you.""
His shoulders dropped slightly.
"I should have questioned her.""
"Maybe. But right now, I need the truth more than apologies.""
He nodded.
Then he walked back toward Tasha.
She was sitting on one of the patio chairs, staring at the ground.
For a moment, I remembered the woman who had moved into my house carrying three suitcases and a potted plant.
She had laughed when I told her I didn't know how to keep plants alive.
She had kissed my cheek and said, "Don't worry. I'll take care of this one.""
The plant had died after six months.
I wondered why I had spent so much longer trying to save the relationship.
"Marcus.""
Tasha's voice brought me back.
She stood beside the table.
"Can we please talk without all these people listening?""
I looked around.
Most of the guests were beginning to leave.
Brittany approached her.
"Girl, I'm going to head out.""
Tasha reached for her hand.
"You're leaving?""
Brittany looked uncomfortable.
"I think you need to sort this out.""
Tasha lowered her voice.
"After everything I've done for you?""
Brittany pulled her hand away.
"Don't do that.""
"Do what?""
"Make me responsible for this.""
She picked up her handbag and left through the gate.
One by one, the guests followed.
Nobody wanted another burger.
Nobody wanted dessert.
Within twenty minutes, the backyard was almost empty.
Only Nicole, Daniel, Tasha, and I remained.
I turned off the grill.
The sudden silence was uncomfortable.
Tasha walked toward the house.
"I'm going inside.""
"Wait," Nicole said.
Tasha stopped.
"We need to discuss access to the property.""
Tasha frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"It means we should make sure there are no misunderstandings about who has authority over the property.""
Tasha laughed bitterly.
"You're not seriously suggesting I can't enter the house.""
Nicole looked at me.
I took a breath.
"Tasha, I need space. Tonight, I want you to stay somewhere else.""
Her mouth fell open.
"You're kicking me out?""
"I'm asking you to stay somewhere else while we sort this out.""
"This is my home!""
"It isn't your legal property.""
She looked at Daniel.
"Tell him he can't do this.""
Daniel didn't answer.
She turned back toward me.
"After four years, you're throwing me away?""
I shook my head.
"I'm not throwing you away. I'm refusing to continue living with someone I can no longer trust.""
She started crying.
I wanted to comfort her.
That was the worst part.
Even after everything, some part of me still wanted to put my arms around her and make the situation less painful.
But I knew that if I did, we would return to the same cycle.
She would cry.
I would apologize for being harsh.
And the truth would disappear beneath another emotional argument.
Not this time.
Nicole spoke gently.
"Marcus, let's handle this properly. We'll document the situation and make arrangements regarding personal belongings and access. No one needs to act impulsively.""
I nodded.
Tasha wiped her face.
"Fine.""
She walked upstairs.
I heard drawers opening and closing.
Daniel sat on the patio step.
"She's going to hate me.""
I looked at him.
"She may.""
He nodded.
"But I couldn't keep pretending.""
"That was the right decision.""
A few minutes later, Tasha came downstairs carrying a large handbag.
She stopped at the front door.
"Marcus.""
I turned.
She looked different without the confident smile she had worn all afternoon.
"Do you remember our anniversary last year?""
I nodded.
"You took me to that restaurant downtown.""
"You said you wanted to celebrate somewhere special.""
She swallowed.
"You told me you wanted to build a future with me.""
"I meant it.""
"Then why won't you fight for us?""
I looked at her.
"Because I can't be the only person fighting for something that requires two honest people.""
She lowered her eyes.
Then she left.
The front door closed softly.
I stood there for several seconds.
Daniel eventually walked toward me.
"I'm sorry.""
I nodded.
"Get home safely.""
After he left, Nicole helped me secure the documents.
She also advised me to contact my security company and have the access credentials reviewed.
At around eleven, I finally sat alone in the kitchen.
The house felt enormous.
I poured myself a glass of water and looked at the empty chair across from me.
Then my phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
*You need to stop asking questions about Ethan.*
I stared at the screen.
Another message appeared.
*Tasha isn't the person you should be worried about.*
My fingers tightened around the phone.
I immediately called Nicole.
She answered on the second ring.
"Marcus?""
"Someone just sent me a threatening message.""
"What does it say?""
I read it to her.
She became quiet.
"Don't respond. Screenshot everything. I'll document it.""
I sent her the screenshots.
Then I opened the message details.
The number wasn't saved.
But there was something familiar about the area code.
I checked the number against an old contact list from my business.
My stomach dropped.
It belonged to Ethan Cole.
I called Nicole again.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
"The message came from Ethan.""
She exhaled slowly.
"Then we're going to need every record you have involving him.""
I walked into my home office and opened my laptop.
There were hundreds of old emails.
Invoices.
Project agreements.
Renovation schedules.
And then I found something strange.
A message sent from Ethan's company account four months earlier.
The subject line read:
*Bennett Property Portfolio — Private Acquisition Opportunity.*
I opened it.
There was a spreadsheet attached.
It listed three properties owned by my company.
The estimated market value of each.
Their mortgage balances.
And a final column titled:
*Potential Exit Value.*
But the email wasn't addressed to me.
It had been sent to an outside investment group.
I read the recipient's name.
Then I looked at the date.
Ethan had been researching my properties months before Tasha ever contacted the lender.
I called Nicole.
"You're not going to believe this.""
"What did you find?""
I attached the spreadsheet.
She opened it while we were on the phone.
Then she stopped speaking.
Finally, she said something that made my blood run cold.
"Marcus, this isn't just about your house.""
I stared at the screen.
"What do you mean?""
"Someone has been evaluating your entire property portfolio.""
I leaned closer to the laptop.
There were three properties listed.
My house.
A small apartment building in Decatur.
And a commercial property near downtown Atlanta.
The spreadsheet included a proposed combined purchase price.
It was nearly four million dollars.
I sat back.
"Who was going to buy all of this?""
Nicole scrolled to the bottom.
"There is a company name here.""
She read it aloud.
"Southern Crest Holdings.""
I had heard that name before.
It belonged to a property investment group that had approached my company about a partnership the previous year.
I had rejected their offer.
They had wanted too much control over my assets.
I had walked away.
And now, apparently, they were back.
But there was something even stranger.
The spreadsheet contained a note beside the house.
*Owner resistance expected. Resolve through domestic partner.*
I read the sentence twice.
My throat went dry.
Tasha hadn't simply wanted to sell the house.
May you like
Someone had identified her as the easiest way to get to me.
And I had a terrible feeling that the person behind the entire operation was still watching.
